2 VERB If people, troops, or goods are airlifted somewhere, they are carried by air, especially in a war or when land routes are closed. □ [be V -ed + to ] The injured were airlifted to hospital in Prestwick.
air|line ◆◆◇ /eə r la I n/ (airlines ) N‑COUNT [oft in names] An airline is a company which provides regular services carrying people or goods in aeroplanes. □ …the Dutch national airline KLM.
air|lin|er /eə r la I nə r / (airliners ) N‑COUNT An airliner is a large aeroplane that is used for carrying passengers.
air|lock /eə r lɒk/ (airlocks ) also air lock
1 N‑COUNT An airlock is a small room that is used to move between areas which do not have the same air pressure, for example in a spacecraft or submarine.
2 N‑COUNT An airlock is a bubble of air in a pipe that prevents liquid from flowing through.
air|mail /eə r me I l/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n, by N ] Airmail is the system of sending letters, parcels, and goods by air. □ …an airmail letter. □ Goods are generally shipped by airmail.
air|man /eə r mən/ (airmen ) N‑COUNT An airman is a man who flies aircraft, especially one who serves in his country's air force.
ai r miles N‑PLURAL Air miles are points that you collect when you buy certain goods or services and which you can use to pay for air travel.
ai r pis|tol (air pistols ) N‑COUNT An air pistol is a small gun which is fired by means of air pressure.
air|plane /eə r ple I n/ (airplanes ) N‑COUNT An airplane is a vehicle with wings and one or more engines that enable it to fly through the air. [AM ] in BRIT, use aeroplane
air|play /eə r ple I / N‑UNCOUNT The airplay which a piece of popular music receives is the number of times it is played on the radio. □ Our first single got a lot of airplay.
air|port ◆◆◇ /eə r pɔː r t/ (airports ) N‑COUNT [oft in names] An airport is a place where aircraft land and take off, which has buildings and facilities for passengers. □ …Heathrow Airport, the busiest international airport in the world.
ai r|port no v|el (airport novels ) N‑COUNT People sometimes refer to long novels such as thrillers and romances that are written in a popular style as airport novels .
ai r|port tax (airport taxes ) N‑VAR Airport tax is a tax that airline passengers have to pay in order to use an airport. □ Overnight return flights cost from £349 including airport taxes.
ai r pow|er also airpower N‑UNCOUNT A nation's air power is the strength of its air force. □ We will use air power to protect U.N. peacekeepers if necessary.
ai r rage N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Air rage is aggressive or violent behaviour by airline passengers. □ Most air rage incidents involve heavy drinking.
ai r raid (air raids ) N‑COUNT [N n] An air raid is an attack by military aircraft in which bombs are dropped. This expression is usually used by the country or group that is suffering the attack. □ [+ on ] …a series of daylight air raids on London by German bombers in 1917.
ai r ri|fle (air rifles ) N‑COUNT An air rifle is a rifle which is fired by means of air pressure.
air|ship /eə r ʃ I p/ (airships ) N‑COUNT An airship is an aircraft that consists of a large balloon which is filled with gas and is powered by an engine. It has a section underneath for passengers.
air|show /eə r ʃoʊ/ (airshows ) also air show N‑COUNT An airshow is an event at which aeroplane pilots entertain the public by performing very skilful and complicated movements with the aircraft in the sky.
air|space /eə r spe I s/ also air space N‑UNCOUNT A country's airspace is the part of the sky that is over that country and is considered to belong to it. □ The plane left British airspace.
air|speed /eə r spiːd/ (airspeeds ) also air speed N‑COUNT An aircraft's airspeed is the speed at which it travels through the air.
ai r strike (air strikes ) also airstrike N‑COUNT An air strike is an attack by military aircraft in which bombs are dropped. This expression is usually used by the country or group that is carrying out the attack. □ A senior defence official said last night that they would continue the air strikes.
air|strip /eə r str I p/ (airstrips ) N‑COUNT An airstrip is a stretch of land which has been cleared so that aircraft can take off and land. □ We landed on a grass airstrip, fifteen minutes after leaving Mahe.
ai r ter|mi|nal (air terminals ) N‑COUNT An air terminal is a building in which passengers wait before they get on to an aeroplane. [mainly BRIT ]
air|tight /eə r ta I t/ also air-tight
1 ADJ If a container is airtight , its lid fits so tightly that no air can get in or out. □ Store the cookies in an airtight tin.
2 ADJ An airtight alibi, case, argument, or agreement is one that has been so carefully put together that nobody will be able to find a fault in it. [AM ] □ Mick had an airtight alibi. in BRIT, use watertight
ai r time also airtime N‑UNCOUNT The airtime that something gets is the amount of time taken up with broadcasts about it. □ Even the best women's teams get little air time.
ai r-to-ai r ADJ [ADJ n] Air-to-air combat is a battle between military aeroplanes where rockets or bullets are fired at one aeroplane from another. □ …air-to-air missiles.